Washington Post cuts 30% of staff, guts foreign desk, Mideast team: What to know Foreign correspondents from the Post have extensively covered wars in Gaza, Ukraine and other global conflict zones. United States
‘Save the Post’: Washington Post journalists urge Bezos to protect foreign desk The Post maintains one of the most extensive overseas reporting networks among US newspapers, including Middle East bureaus in Istanbul, Cairo and Dubai. United States
Europe’s top court moves to fast-track Turkish philanthropist Osman Kavala's case: What to know The new move is expected to speed up review of Osman Kavala’s continued imprisonment and Turkey’s repeated failures to release him. Turkey
Analysis Stunt or recalibration? Israel's Raam to break with Muslim Brotherhood Raam leader Mansour Abbas took a huge political risk this week, announcing the party will sever its ties with the Islamic Movement. By Rina Bassist In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs
Analysis After Trump’s pardon letter to Herzog, 4 scenarios emerge for Netanyahu’s trial By Rina Bassist In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs
Tunisian initiative takes to streets against reconciliation law Tunisian social movements like Manich Msamah continue to fight for an authentic democracy in Tunisia as they face off against a controversial law granting amnesty to former regime officials. Tunisia
US-Iran exchanges hang in balance as Trump weighs decision on nuclear deal The State Department has spent no money this year on US-Iran exchanges amid uncertainty over the fate of the nuclear agreement. United States
Violence still plagues Christians in Iraq Iraq's Christian leaders blame violence and instability for the country's declining Christian and Armenian population. Iraq
Afghan kite runners revive old tradition in new home The 116,000 Afghans seeking asylum in Turkey are often overlooked, but a kite project aims to lift their spirits. Syria
Iranian FM who opposed US embassy takeover dies Iranian officials and newspapers across the spectrum expressed their condolences on the death of former Foreign Minister Ebrahim Yazdi. Iran
Israel's defense minister in crosshairs The resignation of Israel’s coordinator on captive and missing soldiers suggests that Israel has stopped negotiating with Hamas for a prisoner exchange deal. Palestine
Egypt seeks to battle extremism through religious education Egypt's Ministry of Awqaf is once again opening its training camps for religious education, looking to include women and young people in an effort to fight extremism. Egypt
Militants stifle civil society in Syria's Idlib Civil society groups in Syria’s Idlib are doing what they can to provide aid to about 1 million citizens, despite pressure by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, an al-Qaeda-linked group that is trying to impose its own presence in the province. Syria
Arrest of rights activists 'chills' Turkey’s civil society Turkish civil society grapples with the arrests of human rights activists and academics as the government marks the anniversary of the failed military coup. Turkey
Germany says Hamburg no place for Erdogan rally as G-20 meets As Turkish-German tension continues to simmer, Germany has denied the Turkish president's request for a rally on the sidelines of the G-20 summit and a German former speaker of the European Parliament calls for an outright ban on pro-Erdogan rallies in Germany. Turkey
Tunisia cracks down on NGOs The Tunisian government has ordered nongovernmental organizations to disclose all of their foreign funding in what some see as an attempt to suppress the civil society sector. Tunisia
Lebanon's civil society groups gear up for 2018 elections After Lebanon’s long-awaited electoral law was ratified, civil society movements and members are getting ready to join the elections that are scheduled to be held May 2018. Lebanon
